Recent weather has continued to challenge anglers around the country, with spells of heavy rain and harsh easterly winds dominating conditions, particularly in the east and south where recovery from Storm Chandra is still ongoing. Many rivers and lakes remain very high, with flood conditions in places making fishing difficult. Sea angling has also been impacted, with conditions along the east coast proving especially challenging due to significant swells and unsettled seas, while opportunities elsewhere have also been limited. Overall, the past week has been largely unproductive for angling, with poor weather and high water levels continuing to limit opportunities. Despite the challenges, last weekend’s brief pause in the weather, with calmer and drier conditions, offered a short window of better angling opportunities.

Starting with pike fishing, there have been some good reports from the River Inny in recent weeks. The river has been fishing well, with the top fish weighing 26.2lbs, caught by a Kildare angler deadbaiting on the ‘Competition Stretch’ near Coolnagun Bridge. However, recent rain has brought rising water levels and discoloured conditions, and sport has dipped somewhat over the past few days.

From Lough Derg, Damien Culliney of Anglers Paradise Guiding reported a rare triple hook-up for his guests, father Adrian and his two young sons, Jamie and Adam, despite far from favourable conditions. After a cold, fishless couple of hours, a three-fish run was the last thing anyone expected, but it completely turned the day around. The trio had a few more takes afterwards, with Adrian landing the best fish of the session, a 101cm pike.

pike
Jamie, Adrian and Adam with their triple hook up

Over the weekend, a number of coarse matches took place across Ireland, taking advantage of a welcome break in the weather. Jack Tisdall topped the eighth round of the VDE Baggers Winter League on a flooded Erne system, while Pat Bartley and Colin Oliver won the third running of the Leinster Pairs at Ballycommon. Elsewhere, Irish feeder international Charlie Richards fished well on Lough Garadice, where consistent catches of skimmers helped everyone put a decent weight on the scales.

Good bags were reported from Lough Erne

As expected, sea angling has been exceptionally slow of late, with anglers struggling in difficult conditions. Aside from a few competitions fished last weekend along the east coast at Killiney Beach and Morriscastle during a brief break in the weather, there would have been little to report…were it not for a remarkable surprise catch: a specimen skate landed from the shore in West Cork. Kevin McGowan caught this impressive fish, estimated at 190cm, from a rock mark he and his friend had only discovered a few weeks earlier. This catch is a worthy winner of our “Catch of the Week”.

Our “Catch of the Week” – Kevin’s shore-caught skate

We are concluding this week’s Irish Angling Update with news from Lough Melvin where the first salmon of the 2026 season was caught on the lake’s opening day, Sunday, February 1st. The 7lb fish was landed by Sean Maguire while trolling a Yellow Belly minnow.

Other news

Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2026

This week, Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, announced the launch of a second public consultation on the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2026. This consultation provides stakeholders and members of the public with a further opportunity to comment on the draft Regulations before they are finalised. The consultation will be open for 30 days, closing at 5:30pm on Thursday, 5th March 2026

Job Opportunities

Inland Fisheries Ireland has launched a national recruitment campaign to fill several seasonal roles, including Fisheries Officers and Research Assistants, with positions available across the country. The outdoor roles will begin in April and offer opportunities to work in rivers, lakes, and coastal environments. These seasonal opportunities would be well-suited to those with an interest in protecting, managing and conserving Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources.

 

And now the weather

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with areas of mist and fog. Patchy rain will persist in the north, while scattered showers will occur farther south, with the heaviest and most frequent rain in the southwest. Winds will be light, becoming easterly or variable, and temperatures will drop to between 3 and 7 degrees.

Mist and fog will be present in some areas tomorrow morning. Cloud and patchy rain will continue across northern regions, while it will be largely dry elsewhere, although scattered heavy showers will affect the south. Sunshine will be limited, with daytime temperatures reaching between 7 and 11 degrees and light, variable winds.

The weather will remain unsettled as low pressure continues to dominate, bringing further spells of rain or showers. Temperatures will stay around or slightly above average.

Don’t forget to double-check the forecast before heading off, and if you’re going to sea, check the tides.

Safe fishing to all and tight lines, especially here in Ireland.

IFI Staff
Catch, Photo, Release

If you have an angling story to share with the Irish Angling Update, please send it to reports@fisheriesireland.ie. 

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